Reds.comments and a 10-inning win against the Netherlands!

The Reds only needed 10 innings yesterday to take down a fearsome Netherlands All-Star team made up of the same players that make up their regular team. While it hasn't been reported if the Netherlanders wore wooden cleats, according to comments on the Reds.com message board, based on a handful of Spring Training games, the Reds have a striking resemblance to the Big Red Machine, the 1990 World Series team, and the late 90's Yankee dynasty...really. And some have already lost faith in closer Francisco Cordero after 2 innings and 5 earned runs of baseball. Pop a bowl of corn and let's take a look at some comments.

"I hope I'm wrong, but I think the Francisco Cordero signing is going to wind up being a huge failure. He's giving up at least a run per inning. I know it's early but he needs to get it together. If he can't get guys out in the fifth inning, then how can we expect him to get guys out when it counts?"

10 years of 3.29 ERA baseball and you just threw Coco under the bus after 2 innings of Spring Training ball. It is clear that you have very poor stamina in the bedroom.

"Dickerson, Taveras and Bruce...WOW. If the speed is all it's advertised we are going to see some exciting defense this year. I think back to Griffey, Geronimo and Foster. Is the "Big Red Machine" getting tuned up for a comeback. I sure hope so, it's been too long without a championship."

This poor man has been starved for a winning team for too long because he just compared Dickerson/Taveras/Bruce to Griffey/Geronimo/Foster. Not that I need to clarify, but...In 19 seasons, Ken Griffey batted .296/.359/.431 with a 118 OPS+. In 15 seasons, Cesar Geronimo won 4 Gold Gloves in center field. In 18 seasons, George Foster batted .274/.338/.480 with a 126 OPS+. In 1977, he hit 52 home runs. Considering our starting outfield will have roughly six years of questionable big league experience, let's hold off on the Big Red Machine comparisons.

"The Yankee dynasty of the late 90's didn't have a single player that hit 30 or more home runs. Timely hitting, pitching and defense can take a team a long way."

While you are correct that the Yankees didn't have a single player that hit 30 or more home runs in the late 90's (Bernie hit 30 in 2000), they didn't abandon the long ball as you imply. They ranked 4th, 8th, and 6th in the AL in home runs in 1998, 1999 and 2000 during their three-peat. Not too shabby. Just throw out any stat that takes a shadow jab at Adam Dunn why don't you, you big jerk.

"I have been a Reds fan since 1961 and I think this team bears a striking resemblance to the 1990 team. The only difference being the bullpen. The 1990 team had the nasty boys and this year we have Rhodes(too old) and Weathers(too sad). There is still time to improve."

A striking resemblance to the 1990 World Series team? That's a tall order...

The 1990 Reds (NL ranks)

1st in BA (.265)

4th in OBP (.322)

3rd in SLG (.399)

2nd in ERA (3.39)

2nd in SO (1,029)

In other words, your memory is starting to go. You would have been perfect as James Garner in The Notebook. And you're a fan since 1961? Was that like the year you were born or something, because if not, that's kind of weird to say that you've been a fan since that year, like one day in 1961 you just decided to start liking the Reds or something, just turned on the damn switch huh? Well guess what, I've been a Reds fan since 1960, even though I was born in 1985, and there's nothing you can do about it.

"I too have been a fan since 1961. This team reminds me of another Reds team built around the idea of speed and defense. GM Bob Howsam traded power hitting 1B Lee May to Houston for a base stealing 2nd baseman named Joe Morgan and a centerfielder with an arm like a howitzer named Cesar Geronimo. The result? the BIG RED MACHINE. Walt has the right idea here."

Also starring Ramon Hernandez as Johnny Bench? You and the commenter above should have a 1961 class reunion and talk about how you make poor observations about baseball, and probably life.

"...Tavaras, Harriston/Dickerson, Votto/Gomes,Phillips, Bruce, Fernandez, EE, Gonzo/Kepp= 6 runs a game avg..."

This one is a little too easy, like picking on the goth kid. Harriston and Fernandez? Get the names right Jim. And also, the Cubs led the NL in runs per game last year with just over 5. Moral of the story--there is no way in hell the Reds will average 6 runs a game this year. If we are lucky, 4.6 runs/game, my final offer. Oh, and you're a dumbass.

Reds.comments: Bless Their Hearts

EDITOR'S NOTE

This will be a reoccurring segment on The Red Scare where we analyze certain fan comments posted under news articles and press releases from Reds.com, the official propaganda machine of the Cincinnati Reds.

On signing an outfielder

"Why Griffey Jr.? Did you see him play the past 8/9 years? He can't catch up to a 92 mph heater anymore. Walt has done an excellent job in the offseason acquiring players that make financial and team chemistry sense. Speed, defense, and pitching win games this days. Hernandez, Taveras, and Gomes were big acquistions this offseason. Remember when the Reds gave Cantu a chance two years ago? Can't wait for the season to start. GO REDS!!!!!!"

We won't go into the unfortunate injuries that have plagued Junior and how that has affected his play. But for the right price (which will not be that much) I wouldn't mind Junior off the bench. According to you, Walt has done "an excellent job" this offseason and "Hernandez, Taveras and Gomes were big acquisitions." Wow, you're easily impressed. You see, I would consider players like Bobby Abreu, Mark Teixiera and Milton Bradley as "big acquisitions." Keep drinking the water.

On the starting left fielder

"You have to start hairston, anyone can come up and hit 300 6 hrs and 15 rbi in the last 31 games of the season when no one is trying and a bunch of triple and double A cats are pitching. Hairston is faster than dickerson, will hit for a better avg, steal more bases and just be more of an asset to the team out in left. dont get me wrong i like dickerson but i think he has to prove himself in spring training to even be considered for the job."

I agree that Dickerson needs to prove himself, but give the guy some credit for putting up those numbers at the end of last year. You need to take your love affair with Jerry Hairston Jr. down a notch. He's a career .260/.330/.370 hitter who had a career year in his 11th season. Jerry is also linked to steroids in the Mitchell Report, but no one seems to give a crap because he's Jerry Hairston Jr. Give the young guy a chance to prove himself, not in Spring Training, but for the first month or two of the season. I think the idea of judging players by how they perform in Spring Training is silly. There are some fringe players that have incredible Spring Trainings and still don't make the squad and other players who make the squad after horrendous springs, which tells us that a majority of the roster spots are predetermined and involve money, not talent.

On not making any sense

"cincinasty got it right look at patterson last yr a baker buddy.last year had a lot to do with baker not the players when it comes to losing"

what?

Welcome: Darryl Ward and Jacque Jones (and still not Bobby Abreu)

Playing time for Chris Dickerson/Jerry Hairston Jr./Jonny Gomes just got a bit tighter with the recent signings of veterans Darryl Ward and Jacque Jones to minor league contracts (and for those wondering, the text layered over the profile pics was done through a new computer software called Microsoft Paint, where you can graffiti over the top of image files).

While there is no guarantee that either will make the Opening Day roster, Ward will mostly likely fill the tubby void left by Javier Valentin, formerly of the Three-Headed Suck Monster. Ward, who has seen time at first base and in the outfield in 11 seasons, is primarily a pinch hitter, which is a fancy way of saying Darryl isn't good enough to play defense and shouldn't be allowed to have 3-4 ABs a game. It's always hard to judge a pinch hitter's numbers because the sample size is miniscule and they are forever swinging cold, so a career .263/.320/.447 could be worse (see Javier Valentin). Darryl is aware of the enemy. He's played with Chicago, Houston and Pittsburgh.

When the Reds signed Jonny Gomes to a minor league contract a few weeks ago, fans were generally accepting of this move, mostly because it served as outfield insurance if Chris Dickerson didn't develop/Jerry Hairston Jr. returned to his normal self/Lance Nix played to expectations and sucked. Now with Jones competing for an outfield spot, the annual revolving door in the grass that Reds fans have become accustomed to is now complete (see 2008--Griffey, Dunn, Patterson, Hopper, Bruce, Freel, Hairston, Dickerson). Jones, in his 11th season, owns three worthy seasons (2002, 2003 and 2006).

There are those who will say, "The more players we have competing for the outfield job, the better." I disagree. This is only putting added pressure on Chris Dickerson. As soon as he slumps, they're going to replace him and I'm not sure this is a good thing. If there are too many players trying out in left, we'll never have any consistency in the order. Man, I sure wouldn't mind having Bobby Abreu for a year around $3 million. With Abreu, we possibly make a run at the Wild Card.

Scouting Report: Chris Dickerson

Offense
C-Dicks had an enchanted 2008. Called up during the dog days of summer with half of the Reds either injured or too demoralized to play, Dickerson put on his big-boy pants and came to work. In a cup of coffee (106 AB), he batted .304/.413/.618!!! Those numbers are almost as good as Albert Pujols' lifetime line. But let's not get too excited. In five minor league seasons, young Dickerson was a .260/.360/.415 hitter. This isn't too terrible when we consider the 100 point difference between his BA and OBP, which means Chris is patient at the plate and draws walks. This is hard to teach many young hitters but Chris seems to understand the strike zone, thus, he has the proper foundation to be a professional hitter. He will, however, have to cut down on the strikeouts (the main source of his low BA).

Defense
He's an agile, quick outfielder. Aren't they all?

Overall
Dickerson is an all-around athlete with 30 SB potential. It will take time for him to fully develop his game and it's doubtful he will finish next season with numbers remotely close to what he did in 2008, that is, if he even stays in the majors. He hasn't experienced a Major slump yet (inevitable) and when it happens, it will be very, very ugly. But let's hope the Reds give him at least half a year to prove himself. We'll see if Dickerson is a real power hitter. Something tells me not really, but then again, I've learned to be a pessimist as a Reds fan. He's 27 years old. It's time young Dickerson. Oh, and he seems to be a really good guy. Thanks to Matt F. for the link.

STAT WATCH: Rarely does a major leaguer drastically improve upon his minor league numbers. Because the Reds have yet to sign a legit starting left fielder, Chris might see a starting position there depending on how he performs this spring. Another scenario might pit Chris platooning in left with Jerry Hairston Jr., creating a unique individual player named Chrissy Dickston III. Dickerson has that magic nine-letter word: P-O-T-E-N-T-I-A-L. Then again, so does Homer Bailey. Chris, we have no idea what to expect from you. Just do good.